New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-17
MISS WOLFES MANY CHARITIES.
SCATTERING HER MONEY ON EVERY HAND.


SCATTERING HER MONEY ON EVERY HAND.
FRIEND TELLS HOW FAITHFULLY SHE TRIED TO
CARRY OUT HER FATHERS WISHES.
"The public should know Miss Wolfe as she was in or
der to understand her work." said old friend OF the
family yesterday. "When first remember her she was
a very modest, quiet unassuming girl. She was 80
shrinking that she did not appear at her
best and made people think that she
was cold and distant Her father who of the
most charitable and benevolent Of knowing her
natural shrinking from publicity took special pains
to bring her In charities rather than In society He
said once to me:
"'Now am not going to will my property away to In
stitutions but will bring up my daughter 80 that sne
will use 1t as have used it, and even better
the death Of her father when she came Into posses
sion OF his immense property she had gained confidence
In herself that she fell back upon herself and while
she willing and anxious to receive advice from her
friends and Of business about charitable things sne
each case great and small into her person con-
siderauon In important matter she would not decide
at once. giving time to investigate 1t and act
upon Information and not impulse She more
than filled her fathers place. Her father would
from impulse. remember one case OF family
In need.
"Now said he. want to help these people and he
handed me a check for $500
"'Ths is too much said
"'Take 1t all, he answered; 1T won't hurt Them
Miss Wolfe would not do this; she would ask: How
much is needed . Her father might give $500 where
only $3.50 needed II hisinterest was excited Again
he might not give anything. Miss Wolfe carefully In
vesgated each and considered Its relative claim
upon her and always gave freely. II she was
convinced that the object good. Miss Wolfe never
gave less than s. have known her father to make
donation Of so cents Her gifts in quiet ways ranged
from SIS to $4,000 She aimed always to fulnll her
fathers wishes and do in charity work which he
would have done.
"During Miss wofe's last visit to me. she
asked me about some charity In which her
father had been interested. Before his death she
interested hersef in many families who were strug'
Cling. / remember several families TO whom she gave
several hundred dollars In small OF IS and 80 She
took special interest In struggling women who we're
supporting their families and in bright girls who were
without the means OF acquiring an education She edu
Gated OF girls at yassar College and elsewhere
Some Of them she sent TO Europe. Many OF them
never knew who their benefactress was
so quietly and modestly did she do good
she was woman OF great intellectual culture and nat
uraly took interest In girls with artistic ability The
beautiful which sang in the choir at her funera
was that OF young lady who owed her musical education
to Miss Wolfe.
81 think we owe Miss wolfes great life OF usefunessto
her fathers care and his daily effort to have her inter
ested charitable matters She came to me soon after
her fathers DEATH as I was an Intimate friend
and asked how much 1 thought
her father int nded give tho Home for Incurables
said SO. 600 She said at once will do It, and asked
about the Home for Old Men at St. Johniand said
knew her father intended to give $4,000 there
She gave that remember once an excellent charity
through bad management OF superntendents be-
came involved in debts to the amount OF $4,000. We
did not become public and we finally
decided the money quietly among our friends to
whom we could explain the matter: L agreed 70 raise
IN N told her the circumstances. she
listened with great interests then In her quiet way
het 's cuty IL w give me pleasure to take your hail.
and she drew her check forthe amount
Mas Wolfe would often ask at first II there was any
case OF distress which knew Of but In the latter years
of her life appeals for help came to her In scores re-
some letters she had received. She read number OF
letters from the Finally she to worded
IN sSs down and cried like
child why; she said they treat me ike child as II
friends she Owed to feel that could conde in them
She Womb nG.- complain when 11 Object OF
tel how much ,o- bad sob better give I've
charity when she was convinced the object good
Letters came In her, but she looked over all
Nearly half OF Miss Wolfes time taken up with such
letters. She said with tears In her eye. ..,,
ity so long as [ do not know to whom am Civ
ng' she exceptionally robust woman OF strong
constitution but ten years ago felt that her health
must down under the mental strain to which she
subject from the continual appeals 70 her
the stories OF suffering told too many OF when were
miserable subtcrfuges to obtain money she was com
PEELED to go to Europe FOR rest ana nave heard her
give orders that letters should follow her sbe never
forgot her interests in charities here when she went
abroad and when she the Nile received letter
rnm her asking me to distribute sos 900 in various
| sums Her devotion to her father and all charities In
which he had been interested went with her through life
Miss Wolfe was "A remarkable woman because her chart
ties we're systematic and devoted to worthy objects
She seemed always act from strong sense OF duty
awhile Miss Wolfe not society woman, yet she
scrupuously discharged her duties to society She at
tended to letters every morning In room devoted to
this purpose There always two Kinds OF wine upon
her table though used wine herself. This she
due her guests who might be accustomed 10
wines Her religion went into her iife She was the
greatest support her pastor sho was always regular
In her church and Ia her seat before tho ser
vice never saw late Even In her later years she
shrank from attracting any attention"